Daniel Tanielu (OL, 6'3, 280, Sr) of Dutchtown HS in Geismar, Louisiana was named Second Team 3-5A. He also recently played in the US Army Red Stick Bowl All Star at Olympia Stadium in Baton Rouge. Tanielu is receiving interest from Connecticut, Duke, LA-Lafayette, McNeese State, Nicholls St, and SE Louisiana.
Showing posts with label High School Football. Show all posts
Showing posts with label High School Football. Show all posts
Monday, December 18, 2006
Dutchtown HS (Louisiana): Daniel Tanielu
Daniel Tanielu (OL, 6'3, 280, Sr) of Dutchtown HS in Geismar, Louisiana was named Second Team 3-5A. He also recently played in the US Army Red Stick Bowl All Star at Olympia Stadium in Baton Rouge. Tanielu is receiving interest from Connecticut, Duke, LA-Lafayette, McNeese State, Nicholls St, and SE Louisiana.
Sunday, December 17, 2006
2006 All San Jose Mercury News Football Team
The San Jose Mercury News on Friday selected their 2006 All Star Football teams which included quite a few Samoans, Tongans, and other Polynesians. In addition they listed All League Teams as well. The first team included 2 Samoans, a Tongan and a Maori.
1st Team
RHETT ELLISON, ST. FRANCIS
Senior | Defensive lineman | Height: 6-5 | Weight: 235
With his great hands, size and speed, Ellison anchored both the offense and defense for the Lancers, despite being hampered by an injured knee. The Virginia Tech-bound defensive end was disruptive on a defense that excelled against the run. As a tight end, Ellison caught 31 passes for 394 yards on a team that seldom threw, accounting for 44 percent of the Lancers' receiving yards. 1st Team All West Catholic League.
FRED KOLOTO,
Senior | Offensive lineman | Height: 6-4 | Weight: 270
The left guard and defensive tackle provided a good portion of the power in the Vikings' power game that manhandled playoff opponents. Koloto was quick to lead sweeps as a pulling guard and physical enough to push defenders off the line of scrimmage. Considered by some the best lineman in the CCS, Koloto also was an inspirational leader, speaking up in the locker room when he felt his team needed a push. Koloto was also a Santa Clara De Anza 1st Team Selection OL and Division Line MVP.
STEVEN FANUA,
Sophomore | Linebacker | Height: 6-1 | Weight: 200
Fanua was the breakthrough player of the section this year. His 220 tackles were third in the country and first in the state among schools that reported to maxpreps.com, and he had 11 sacks. Too amazing to be true? Watch him play. Fanua, who shoots the gaps from 5 yards behind the line, is always around the ball. He had three 20-tackle games, and only once made fewer than 10 stops. Also selected Santa Clara Valley De Anza Division 1st Team LB Defensive MVP.
SJ Mercury News: Sophomore of the Year.
TIUKE TUIPULOTU, SERRA
Junior | Defensive back | Height: 5-9 | Weight: 175
Tuipulotu was arguably the best running back in the CCS, but his touches were somewhat limited (90 carries, 865 yards, 11 TDs) because he was so valuable on defense. They call him The Eraser because ``he erases everybody's mistakes,'' Coach Patrick Walsh said. Playing with an intensity that belies his quiet nature, the free safety was a stopper. ``He'd make kids pay,'' Walsh said. West Catholic 1st Team and Conference Junior of the Year.
SJ Mercury News: Junior of the Year.
| POS. | NAME | SCHOOL | HEIGHT | WEIGHT | YEAR |
| OL | Jacob Feagai | Piedmont Hills | 6-4 | 290 | Junior |
| OL | Chris Havili | Aragon | 5-11 | 280 | Senior |
| RB | Sione Mataele | Palo Alto | 6-0 | 260 | Junior |
| DL | Latani Moi Moi | Menlo-Atherton | 6-3 | 230 | Junior |
| LB | Anthony Mose | Alisal | 6-2 | 225 | Senior |
| DL | Paul Tuiono | Woodside | 6-3 | 220 | Senior |
Honorable Mention
RB Seta Pohahau (Aragon HS, San Mateo) Jr
1st
LB Matt Turituri (Wilcox HS, Santa Clara ) Jr
1st Team Santa Clara De Anza Division LB and Outstanding OLB
Other Notables
DL Moni Leulu (Overfelt HS, San Jose) Sr
1st Team Blossom Valley West Valley Divsion and Co-DL Player of the Year
LB Obed Lologo (Monterey HS)
1st Team Monterey Bay League and League Outstanding Linebacker
DB Erwin Taliaoa (Overfelt HS, San Jose)
1st Team Blossom Valley West Valley Divsion and Sophomore Player of the Year
2006 Utah All State Polynesian Football Selections
1st
James Aiono DL, 6’4, 255, Sr (Murray HS): 1st Team 4A
Joe Feula DL, 5’10, 250, Sr (Dixie HS, St George): Selected 1st
Doug Fiefia RB, 5’10, 170, Sr (Bingham HS, South Jordan): Selected 1st
Star Lotulelei DL, 6’4, 250, Sr (Bingham HS, South Jordan): Selected 1st
Eathyn Manumaleuna OL/DL, 6’2, 280, Sr (Timpview HS,
Devin Mausia LB, 6’0, 170, Sr (Timpview HS,
Ray Mulitalo DL, 6’0, 240, Sr (Hunter HS,
John Tauteoli LB, 6’0, 225, Sr (East HS, Salt Lake City): 1st Team All State (4A) selection by both the SL Tribune and Deseret News, also 1st Team All Region 6. Finished the season with 87 tackles, 2 Ints, 9 sacks, and 2 defensive TDs.
Derek Tuimauga OL, 6’4, 325, Jr (Bingham HS, South Jordan): A 3 year starter and only junior to be selected to 1st
2nd Team Selections: 1A, 2A, 3A, 4A, 5A
OL Famika Anae (Timpiew HS,
OL/DL Funaki Asisi (
Another star on both sides of the ball. A tough-to-move guy on defense, finished with 37 tackles and four sacks.
DL Simi Fili (
RB/DB Karl Finai (
DL Nelson Ha’o (
DL Siale Hautau (Skyline HS, SLC) SLT, DN
LB Lynn Katoa (
DB Tonata Lauti (
Specialist Finau Lomu (
RB Kalama Molisi (Skyline HS, SLC) SLT
RB Chase Pili (Manti HS) SLT, DN
LB Nolan Samani (
RB Adam Timo (
OL Mataika Tuai (East HS, SLC) SLT, DN
OL/DL Sam Tuiono (Bingham HS,
RB Leroy Unga (Payson HS) SLT, DN--Also selected All Utah Valley
The powerful junior was a handful on tacklers. For the season he rushed for 1,158 yards and eight TDs, averaging more than five yards per carry.
DL Ikani Vaitohi (Spanish Fork HS) DN--Also selected All Utah Valley
When Dons' line was weakened by injuries, Vaitohi's role changed and he rose to the
challenge. Led the team in tackles, sacks and hurries.
WR Ngalu Wolfgramm (Payson HS) SLT
*SLT: Salt
*DN:
2006 Salt Lake Tribune Selections
SL Tribune 2A, 1A
5A first team All-State football
4A first team All-State football
3A first team All-State football
2A first team All-State football
1A first team All-State football
Second teams All-State football
Honorable mention All-State football
All Utah Valley (Deseret News)
Saturday, December 16, 2006
Sacramento-Joaquin Section 2006 Polynesian Football All Stars
A large contingent of Samoans and Tongans in the Sacramento-Joaquin Section have been honored in the post-season for the work on the field this past season including Grant HS Defensive Lineman Christian Tupou who was named SacBee Metro Defensive Player of the Year. Tupou helped lead Grant to an undefeated season and a DII section title. In addition, Tupou was selected 1st Team All Section Defensive Lineman.Defensive player of the year -- Christian Tupou
By Bill Paterson - Bee Staff Writer
Christian Tupou, a three-year varsity starter, was the "motor" of an experienced Grant line that made opposing running backs pay for every yard.
"Christian plays with tremendous intensity and integrity," Alberghini said. "He was always willing to do a little bit more.
"As a sophomore, he didn't say much, but when we asked some players to do a little extra running, and a few of them balked, he told them, 'Do it or get out of here.' I knew from that point on we had someone who was going to emerge as a leader."
That leadership spilled over into the classroom, where Tupou is a model student and campus leader. Because of that and his growing 6-3, 275-pound frame, Tupou perhaps is the Pacers' hottest recruit. He credits his parents and five siblings for emphasizing grades.
"From first period to last period, all I'm thinking about is school," Tupou said. "Once it's time for football, my focus is completely on the field."
With his 3.8 cumulative GPA and 21 sacks over two seasons, Tupou has received scholarship offers from eight schools, including Arizona and Nebraska, both of which he has visited.
"With his size and strength, he's probably the most prepared to go out and play in college," Alberghini said.
All Section (Sac-Joaquin)
Joining Tupou on the All Sac-Joaquin Section First Team was West HS (Tracy) Defensive Lineman Amin Silatolu (6'2, 260, Sr), in addition linebackers Lincoln Togiai (6'1, 250, Sr) of Elk Grove and Lewis Tuiavi'i ( 6'1, 215, Sr) of Franklin in Stockton. Tuiavi'i, a transfer from Leone High School in American Samoa, was also Stockton Hall of Fame Player of the Year. Tuiavi'i is coached and mentored by Franklin Defensive Coordinator Jeff Seumaala.
All Metro (Sacramento Bee)
First Team
DL Christian Tupou (Grant HS, Sacramento) 6'3, 275, Sr
LB Lincoln Togiai (Elk Grove HS) 6'1, 250, Sr
In his first year with the Thundering Herd, he had a team-high 130 tackles. He led Elk Grove to the City Championship game, in which it lost to Vacaville.
Second Team
LB Justin Toma (Grant HS, Sacramento) 5'11, 220, Sr
Finished the season with 103 tackles (65 solo) according to Maxpreps.com while playing the middle linebacker position for the undefeated Pacers and DII Section champions.
Honorable Mention
LB Salesi Maumau (Franklin HS, Elk Grove) 6'2, 215, Sr
Finished the season with 93 tackles (64 solo), averaging over 10 total tackles a game
OL Sisi Moala (Johnson HS, Sacramento) 6'2, 230, Sr
Had 166 tackles, including 100 solo while also playing offensive line
All League Teams
Delta Valley
LB Lincoln Togiai (Elk Grove)
LB Salesi Maumau (Franklin HS, Elk Grove)
Metro
DL Christian Tupou (Grant)--Also Defensive MVP
LB Siaosi Heleta (Burbank, Sacramento)
LB Justin Toma (Grant)
LB Sisi Moala (Johnson)
SJAAL
OL Philip Putuga (Franklin HS, Stockton)
LB Lewis Tuiavi'i (Franklin HS, Stockton)
DL Tenise Uelese (Franklin HS, Stockton)
Finished the season with 177 tackles (56 solo), 16 sacks according to Maxpreps.com and also had 686 yards on 61 carries and 4 rushing TDs at fullback.
Tri-City
DL Amin Silatolu (West HS, Tracy)
Tri-County
OL Vision Hendrix (Inderkum HS, Sacramento)
In addition Moala, Togiai, and Tupou will represent the Capital Team versus the Valley Team in the Sac-Joaquin post-season all star football team. Tuiavi'i and Uelese were selected for the Valley Team but elected to not participate.
St Joseph's (Santa Maria, CA): Thomas Sua
Thomas Sua (RB, 6'0, 202, Sr) of St Joseph's in Santa Maria was named the Los Padres League (LPL) MVP after running for 1361 yards this past season. Sua was also a first team selection in 2005 and was a AIGA Foundation Camp participant this past spring. In addition, sophomore defensive lineman John Sua (5'11, 275) was a first team selection.
Friday, December 15, 2006
Palo Alto OL: Fred Koloto
Victor Maccharoli / Daily News
The aggressive play of two-way star lineman Fred Koloto should help Palo Alto in Saturday's state championship game.
Paly lineman Koloto one of the best
It's no wonder Palo Alto offensive guard and defensive tackle Fred Koloto was chosen as the most valuable lineman in the Santa Clara Valley Athletic League De Anza Division the past two years. The senior Koloto, who leads the Vikings' line in Saturday's state title game vs. Orange Lutheran, is one of the most sought-after Vikings in the history of the school.The 6-foot-3, 270-pound Koloto has seven concrete Division I offers - from Nebraska, Washington, BYU, Utah, San Jose State, Fresno State and San Diego State.
"It's an honor to be named most valuable lineman in the league," Koloto said. "All my hard work and everything my parents had to go through with me. My coaches, my teammates. It wasn't just me, it was them who helped me out. All the credit goes to them for making me the player that I am right now."
"Koloto's strength is that he's consistent," Paly head coach Earl Hansen said. "He's very tough. He knocks a guy down and he's right back ready for the next play."
The Vikings often run over left guard where Koloto resides. Reaping the benefit are fullback Sione Mataele and halfbacks Will Frazier and Evan Warner.
"I've gained a lot of yards running over Fred (Koloto)," Frazier said. "I like running behind him."
On defense, Koloto rotates series with Kyle Bristol and sometimes Mataele. Against Orange Lutheran, Koloto may be asked to play more downs defensively.
"Whatever helps our team," Koloto said. "Whatever it takes for us to win that game, I'll do it. I like offense because that's what I'm projected to play in college. I like playing defense, hitting quarterbacks and running backs. At the same time, I like blasting middle linebackers and putting them on their backs."
The surprising tidbit about Koloto's success is that he didn't take up the game of football until his freshman year at Palo Alto. He learned quickly, becoming a two-way starter on the varsity since his sophomore year. He snaps on PATs and field goals.
Playing in the state title game is a once-in-a-lifetime experience for Koloto.
"It's exciting for me," Koloto said. "I've never experienced this level of playing competition that I'm going to be facing on Saturday. We've played in two CCS title games, but this game is going to be the biggest game of my life, so far. Hopefully, later on, I'll have more coming for me."
Koloto said the Vikings, ranked No. 20 in the state by Cal-Hi Sports, aren't going down to Carson just to show up and be handled by the No. 4-ranked Lancers.
"Our main goal was to win our league and CCS," Koloto said. "Playing in the state game was never in our thoughts. Now we want to get this thing done. We're not going down there and have fun. This is business for us. All the talk about them, that they're the best, we don't care about that. We're going down there to represent ourselves, represent our school, represent our community, the Northern Cal."
And Koloto doesn't mind being the underdog.
"If that's the role they want us to be in, I'm fine with it," Koloto said. "When we're successful, it just shows how much heart we have and how hard we have worked as a team."
Koloto could be matched up against Lancers massive defensive tackle Michael Reardon, who earned a ride to USC. A good game by Koloto Saturday, maybe a pancake or two of Reardon, might land Koloto even more offers.
"For me, I'm not worried about the recruiting process right now," Koloto said. "My main focus is to help this team and win this thing. After all is said and done, then I'll get into making my choices for next year."
Koloto doesn't have any particular game that was a memorable one. This game vs. Orange Lutheran could very well be memorable for Koloto and the Vikings.
"All the games are memorable for me," Koloto said. "It's an honor to come to Palo Alto and win CCS and hopefully getting it done at state."
If you're watching in person on Saturday, keep the binoculars on No. 72. One of Paly's greatest lineman will be playing with all his heart in his final game as a Viking.
E-mail John Reid at jreid@dailynewsgroup.com.
Thursday, December 14, 2006
Franklin HS (Seattle, WA): Peyton Siva
Keep an eye out for Peyton Siva (6'0, 160, Soph) of Franklin High School in Seattle on the football field as well as the basketball court. Siva was selected 2nd Team All KingCo 4A the past two seasons at wide receiver.
Franklin's Peyton Siva has the best hops the city has seen since Nate Robinson left Rainier Beach to begin his failed football career. Siva is competitive like Robinson, too. After injuring his wrist at Garfield last year, Siva returned to the bench, let his trainer wrap it up -- then, apparently learning that this would keep him out of the game, started tearing the wrap off.
The trainer had to grab him and pull him back into his seat to keep him from reporting to the scorer's table.
Like Robinson, Siva's a two-sporter. Unfortunately, he broke his collarbone playing football, but he returned to the basketball court Tuesday. Naturally, he was way ahead of schedule.
Tuesday, December 12, 2006
Free High School Football Players SPARQ Clinic
CIF, NIKE, and SPARQ are conducting a FREE SPARQ Challenge for high school age football players to determine your individual ratings during the CIF State Football Championships Bowl Games this Saturday, December 16th, 2006 at the Home Depot Center.Click on Image to the left to view larger.
The Home Depot Center
18400 Avalon Blvd, Suite 100
Carson, CA 90746
AIGA Foundation members and SPARQ Trainers George Malauulu and Jeff Mueller will be present at the event.
Please make sure to have the attached waiver completed and with you at registration.
Click on Image Above, Print Out and Complete
Thursday, December 07, 2006
Timpview (Provo, UT): Devin Mausia
Devin Mausia (LB, 6'0, 170, Sr) of Timpview High School in Provo, Utah helped lead his team to the Utah 4A State Championship and was also named the 4A MVP by the Salt Lake Tribune in addition to being selected Daily Herald Football Player of the Year. In the 4-A championship against Highland, he had 10 tackles, two sacks, a pass breakup, three forced fumbles and a fumble recovery. Mausia recorded 90 total tackles, had 12 sacks and returned an interception for a touchdown for the season.In addition Mausia's teammate Eathyn Manumaleuna (OL, 6'2, 269) was named to the Daily Herald's Elite 11 Team. Manumaleuna transfered to the Utah school from East High School in Anchorage, Alaska where he was first team all state as a junior and Lineman of the Year and verbally committed to BYU. Despite battling a foot injury, Manumaleuna finished second on the team in sacks with five and had four hurries and forced three fumbles. The 6-2, 280 pound senior also played on the offensive line that produced a 1,700 yard rusher in Jackson Owen and a 1,400 yard passer in quarterback Quinn Mecham.
Mausia named Football Player of the Year
Neil K. Warner
Daily Herald
Timpview High School football coach Louis Wong took the fifth.
He had the right to reserve judgment.
Was the 2006 Timpview defense the greatest in school history?
Greater than the 2004 state championship team? More dominant than the championship team of 1997? More complete than the 1991 title team?
Mum's the word. Wong skirted around the issue like a politician who was asked about his stance on Middle East.
That was until Timpview beat Highland 21-12 in the state 4A title game.
Now Wong has an announcement to make.
"I didn't tell them that (before the game), but we had to hold Highland to three points (in the championship) to become the team that has allowed the fewest points in a season," Wong said. "But if you look at what they've done the whole year, I think it's the best defense Timpview has ever had. It's tough to compare teams with each other. It's like I told our players when they asked me that question. I told them I can't say. I told them if you win a state title than I will say yes."
As Timpview's former defensive coordinator and now current head coach, Wong now believes it is the best he's even had at Timpview. And if this is Timpview's best defense, what does that say about the leader of the defense, senior linebacker Devin Mausia?
Mausia led the team in unassisted tackles with 50. He was third on the team in assisted tackles with 21. He recovered three fumbles and caused one. He led the team in tackles for loss with 10 and was second on the team in interceptions with three.
What that says about Mausia is that he is the Daily Herald's Valley Player of the Year.
"His intensity and how he's been involved in a leader on defense is what has made him so important to our team," Wong said. "He always gave a hundred percent. Combined with the other talent we had at linebacker allowed him to be efficient."
Mausia stepped up his game in the playoffs and helped Timpview's defense surrender just 33 points in the four playoff games.
In the state championship game, Mausia sealed the deal with his play on defense. He led the team with 10 tackles. He hit Highland running back Liam McNally, and caused a fumble that Houston Reynolds recovered that set up a 1-yard Jackson Owen touchdown run. Mausia later recovered another Highland fumble on punt return.
Another game, another big day.
In the eight years the Daily Herald has been selecting an All-Valley team, a full-time defensive player has never been selected as the "Player of the Year," until now.
"That's pretty cool. I'm honored to be the first defensive MVP," Mausia said. "Being state champions has made it all worth it. Lifting weights all summer, getting up at 6 a.m. in the summer to run as a team, it was all worth it."
As the undisputed leader on defense, he led a team that recorded five shutouts on the year. Timpview's 5.9 points per game allowed was not only the best in 4A, it was the best by a mile. Sky View allowed the next-fewest points per game. The Bobcats gave up 14.9 points per game.
"I think our defense has been so good because we're all friends," Mausia said. "We help each other out and communicate what we're going to do in certain situations. Our coach kept is humbled. He wouldn't let us get to full of ourselves. He kept kicking our butts."
Since winning high school football's most elusive goal, Mausia has noticed a lot of things have changed and some have not. Neighbors have gone out of their way to congratulate him, but he still hasn't managed do get out of doing the dishes, something he thought he would get a reprieve from. No such luck. He teams up with his younger brother Dewey, who is a junior wide receiver, and takes turns.
Mausia doesn't know where he'll go from here. He would like to play at the next level, but knows at 6-foot, 175 pounds, he may have to try and walk on somewhere.
"I'm keeping my options open right now," he said. "I would like to play, but I don't know if any colleges have noticed me."
If his career is over, what a way to go. He's the Daily Herald's "Valley Player of the Year" and the rings are on order.
Wednesday, December 06, 2006
Pac-Five: Jordan Ho-Ching
|
Ho-Ching's family affair
The Pac-Five player is in the groove in school and on the field with support from two families
HE doesn't remember a lot, not about the breakup. Jordan Ho-Ching was 5, more knowledgeable about Barney and Elmo than the looming problems between his mother and father. So, when Cecilia and Vincent split up, there was no concept of a normal home, not in Jordan's mind. As the only child, the blueprint for his upbringing would be crafted, something of a patchwork, but ultimately, planned out by none other than his divorced, yet amicable parents.
Somehow, he figured out a way to stay focused on academics and athletics, though not necessarily in that order all the time. When he was an eighth-grade basketball standout at St. Elizabeth, mom benched her son.
"I told his coach, 'Sorry, he can't play,' " Cecilia said. "Just because you're the star player doesn't mean anything. If you don't study, you shouldn't play."
So, Jordan complied. When he graduates from Maryknoll next June, his grade-point average will be in excess, he says, of 3.2. He has a 3.8 GPA in the recent trimester to prove his point, and Cecilia's, for that matter.
|
When the HUB Goodwill Senior Bowl concludes on Friday, he will put on his basketball gear for the Spartans. He is one of the best two-sport athletes in the state, and along the way, Ho-Ching also became all-world in diaper-changing, bottle-feeding and babysitting.
Pretty good for a naturally persistent, occasionally stubborn young guy who easily could have walked the other way.
AFTER LONG SEASONS of struggle with the Pac-Five football team, Ho-Ching is relishing an extended season as a senior. The Wolfpack annually compete well with Oahu Interscholastic Association Red and White Conference teams, winning more than losing in nonconference matchups. But then the Interscholastic League of Honolulu schedule begins, and the 'Pack slide in the state's toughest football conference.
Ho-Ching saw the Wolfpack make strides over the past four years, but early-season wins over Kaiser and Kalaheo don't register in the ILH scroll of wins and losses. His fans, of which there are more than he ever imagined, know the highlights. Seven catches for 127 yards against Kaiser. Eight receptions for 174 yards and two touchdowns against Radford. Eight carries for 140 rushing yards against Iolani. An 82-yard kickoff return to the end zone against Saint Louis. Twelve catches for 157 yards against Kamehameha. A total of 139 yards from scrimmage against Iolani in the teams' second meeting.
But the one that Ho-Ching remembers is a performance against Damien in the final game of the season. He ran for 126 yards on just 14 carries with a touchdown. He will clutch that memory, though, because the Wolfpack finally won an ILH game after weeks of frustration.
AFTER VINCIENT and CECILIA divorced, Vincent moved to Seattle, where he continued his career in law enforcement. Jordan flew there for the summers. Cecilia and Jordan moved to New Jersey, where her sister lives, for a couple of years. Once they returned to Hawaii, she supported their bonding all the way through.
By the time Jordan was 9, Vincent was still a police officer and still hanging out with his son. In Seattle, they'd go to the park, where Vincent put his son through all kinds of drills.
"He was strict on me playing football. Every day, I ran routes and tried to perfect my cuts. These were drills where he'd whip the ball at me. He'd whip it, the ball's halfway and then he'd call 'ball,' then I could turn and look," Jordan recalled. "In the beginning my hands could not handle it, but he took me there every single day."
When Vincent moved back to the islands, the workouts continued. It was just a way of life for the former Kaimuki standout, who grew up in Palolo with a Chinese father and Samoan mother, and became a standout middle linebacker in football and forward in basketball for the Bulldogs in the early 1980s. Always talented, always soft-spoken.
"If it wasn't for him, I would be nowhere in sports. He took me every day to play at the police academy (in Waipahu). We used to train when he would train," said Jordan, who would tag along and run the mile with pops.
LOSING HURTS, but when the season ends, the ties remain.
"The frustrating thing was our team was working hard and we kept coming up short. It bothered me that we weren't winning because we could do better than that, but it wasn't dreadful at practice. We kept working hard," said Ho-Ching, who wouldn't trade his career at Pac-Five and Maryknoll for anything else.
"Nope, I would've stayed with Pac-Five all the way. The group of guys, I got to know them and they supported me no matter what happens. The guys on the team, there's nothing I would trade," he said. "Honestly, I've never had a winning football season, but that kind of humbles me. The coaches are good to me. They treat me good."
Coach Kip Botelho raves about Ho-Ching, but from his point of view, it was discipline that was most important. Botelho, Ho-Ching says, has the right balance.
"Coach Kip is strict when he needs to be. He's a good guy. He helped out our team and he's one of the coaches who tries to focus on everybody and encourages everybody to work hard. You're always one step away from starting, and it's true," Ho-Ching said.
Maybe it's the coach within Ho-Ching, the kid who learned the ropes from a stern, task-oriented father. Or maybe he's just a scout at heart. When he thinks about his three siblings, he thinks big. Real big.
For a long time, he was that only child, and as an only child grows up, the desire for a baby brother or sister rarely wanes. When his parents remarried (other people), he soon got his wish. And then some.
"My baby brother is 2. We call him Johnny, and he's already up to my waist," he said.
Christina, his 6-year-old sister, is already up to his chest. His other 2-year-old brother, Shane, is more of an intellectual.
"He's really smart. I haven't been able to see him, so when I'm with him, I play with him as much as possible."
This is the life of Jordan, who lives with two sets of parents and has siblings that the rest of the world calls "half-brothers" or "half-sisters." In Jordan's book of life, they are embedded in his heart, fully and completely.
Until recently, he lived with his mother's and father's families on an alternating-week schedule. That meant half of his stuff was at one house, with the other half at the other house.
Now that he's busy filling out college applications -- a tedious, time-consuming task -- he is sitting put in Cecilia's home until the chaotic paperwork is done.
"He's such a scatterbrain when it comes to that kind of stuff," she said, probably echoing the sentiments of hard-driving moms everywhere.
Her help, along with her husband John, have made the transition easier for a teenaged kid living in the middle of two households. Vincent's second wife, Deanna, also has a very supportive role.
"I don't identify them as stepparents. Uncle John has always been supportive like my dad. My stepmom is really cool. it's been easy for me to bond with my stepparents. They're the kind of people who make it easy for me to adapt to," he said.
The trickle-down effect of parenting, leadership, even accountability, go beyond Vincent and Cecilia. Lita Paleafei, Jordan's maternal grandmother, lays down the law to an extent.
"She's hard on me, and I'm hard on the sons, but she's not hard on the grandchildren," Cecilia said.
"For a long time," Jordan said, "my mom has always stressed to thank God for everything. Before we could eat, my grandmother would tell us we have to remember and say what we learned at Sunday school.
So the family trekked to nearby St. Elizabeth church in Aiea, where Jordan attended middle school before attending Maryknoll.
The life of alternating homes wasn't impossible, but it certainly wasn't easy for a lone star. Once, he was out of deodorant while staying at Cecilia's house. He almost resorted to using her deodorant, but thought better of it.
"I almost used it, but I decided just to be stink for a while," he said.
No such problem at dad's house, of course. The weaving and transporting, it gets tough, along with the commutes to school in Makiki.
"One of the things that helped me was just praying a lot, asking God to help," Jordan said. "And that really helped."
SOMEHOW, IT COMES back to playing catch. Doing drills. Spending time together with dad. Ho-Ching doesn't bring it up, but he'll speak about the importance of role modeling when he's asked. It's so clear in his mind.
"Everything I can do athletically is thanks to God and my dad. I used to want to be a cop, but he says try something different. I just want to be like my dad. The perfect father," he said.
The academic supervisor, a.k.a. Mom, knows time is running short. Wherever her oldest son goes to college, he just won't be around as often. The son thinks he could have been less, well, persistent.
"Me and my mom didn't always have the best relationship. We didn't always see eye to eye. We're both stubborn. When I became a teenager, I was really stubborn with my mom, but I thank her. She's always there when I need her. She's always there to lend a hand. She's in charge of everything I do and knows what I'm practicing for, what I need to do," he said.
"I talked to her about going to school. Because my dad's been away to Seattle, I think he'll be OK when I'm away. But my mom thought about it when I was in church, and I heard she almost started tearing because she's gonna miss me. I'm gonna miss my younger brothers and sister growing up."
Cecilia has no regrets. Everything she needed to say was said.
"I was on him a lot about a lot of things, and I didn't let him slack. He's the typical teenager, but in our Samoan culture, it's you remember who you talk to. I'm glad he chose good friends," she said.
There is always time to remember the pain. There is, however, also a time to celebrate the gain. Between two homes, four parents, three siblings and two sports, Jordan Ho-Ching chooses the obvious.
He chooses to celebrate.
NCAA Clearinghouse Info
If you are a senior (class of 2007), and plan to participate in an NCAA DI or DII school for athletics, then you need to get registered with the NCAA Clearinghouse. This is the "qualifying" process you must complete in order to compete - it takes a long time to get it all done. Their online service allows prospective student-athletes to register electronically.
If you are a junior (class of 2008) then learn this process and become very familiar with it. Make sure you have your SAT scores sent to the NCAA Clearinghouse from your account on www.collegeboard.com . ACT scores need to be sent in as well.
Here's what you need to do. Go to NCAA Clearing House, and click on the "Prospective Student-Athletes" link. Follow the steps and you will have your own login for future reference. Check back routinely to see the status of your registration.
While you are at it, go to NCAA and check the new requirements for NCAA DI and DII athletic participation. This site has all the GPA and SAT/ACT requirements that athletes need to achieve in order to play sports at the next level.
In the future, we'll keep a link to this article, and the SAT registration web site on "Quick Links" on our lev hand navigation bar.
Underclassmen/parents - learn this process in advance.
Do it now.
Thursday, July 06, 2006
Redlands East Valley HS QB Ronnie Fouch commits to UW
Thursday, July 6, 2006
Prolific prep quarterback commits to UW
Ronnie Fouch apologizes for not calling back sooner. He was working, he explains, at a golf course near his home in Redlands, Calif.
Does Fouch play? Yes, he has a 12 handicap.
Does he know Tyrone Willingham is a big golfer? Yes, he has discussed it with the Washington football coach.
Battling an All-American for playing time sounds like Fouch's idea of fun. That quality -- and maybe a bit of that shared fondness for golf -- endeared Fouch to Willingham, who offered the quarterback a scholarship Monday night.
Fouch accepted on the spot.
"I was waiting around for Washington to offer. I really had faith they'd come around," said Fouch, who also had offers from Texas-El Paso, Wyoming, Nevada and Boise State.
Fouch, a 6-foot-2, 185-pounder, has kept track of the quarterbacks on the West Coast and knows all about Jake Locker, the Ferndale High star who is touted as UW's quarterback of the future.
"He'll play. He's a great quarterback and I imagine that he'll play in his time there. But I love to compete. Once I get my chance, I'm going to keep it," Fouch said.
As a junior, Fouch completed 171 of 274 attempts (62.4 percent) for 2,379 yards. He passed for 34 touchdowns with just four interceptions for the 10-1-1 East Valley High team.In the 10th game of the season against Colton, Fouch scrambled on a fourth down. He made the first down, but was leveled by USC-bound Shareece Wright. Fouch finished the series, but his throwing shoulder was separated. He had surgery the following Monday. Still, he returned for basketball season.
The Wildcats advanced to the California Interscholastic Federation semifinals.
The injury might have scared off some recruiters, but Huskies offensive coordinator Tim Lappano was in Redlands for a spring workout during the evaluation period.
"Our coach (Kurt Bruich) called me and some of the receivers over. We ran a bunch of routes so (Lappano) could see my drops, my feet, arm-strength, my accuracy," Fouch said.
Lappano apparently liked what he saw and, according to Fouch, his shoulder is "back to 100 percent."
Fouch visited Washington a week and a half ago with his father John, who played football at Arizona State, and said he loved everything about UW, especially Willingham and his staff.
"I'm looking forward to being part of a great program. It's on the rise and we have a chance to work hard and get it back," Fouch said.
The Class of 2007 is shaping up well for Willingham.
Fouch joins offensive lineman Emeka Iweka (Rainier Beach), tight end Chris Izbicki (Lake Washington) and linebacker Quinton Richardson (O'Dea) among Washington's early oral commitments.
Landing a quarterback as vital as it is tricky, too. Stacking the position can scare off recruits hoping to make an immediate impact. But the importance of depth cannot be overlooked.
Fouch is aware of all of this.
"I figure I'll redshirt my first year, get bigger and stronger and learn a lot, but I love to compete. I'll get my time," he said.
Oral commitments are non-binding until the student-athlete signs a national letter of intent in early February. College coaches cannot talk to the media about recruits until then.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)